Qualified teams forms stage for MLG CS:GO major

The list of teams that will be competing in the Major League Gaming North American Counter-Strike: Global Offensive had been finalized, and ready to go at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus next month.

Among the sixteen teams invited, eight teams—Fnatic, Team EnVyUs, Astralis, Natus Vincere, FaZe Clan, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Virtus.Pro, and Luminosity Gaming—received direct invitations to the event. They represent the world’s best teams and qualify automatically with their outstanding performances over the past several months.

North America-based Splyce and Team Liquid, as well as Europe’s G2 Esports, mousesports and Gambit Gaming made it through the qualifiers earlier last week.

G2 Esports took down Flipsid3 Tactics to win in group A while mousesports defeated the HellRaisers and Team YP in group B to secure their spot. Additionally, Splyce defeated Vexed Gaming just as Gambit Gaming beat the Renegades to book their place.

In the Americas, Team Liquid got through by taking down the HellRaisers in the qualifier’s first best-of-three decider match, going 2-1 with victories on Cache and Dust 2—with the final game going 16-14 in favor of Liquid.

Counter Logic Gaming, Cloud9 and Flipsid3 Tactics were the last teams in the Americas to make it through to the Major. Flipside3 were the first through as they defeated Brazilian team Tempo Storm, Counter Logic Gaming took down Polish team Vexed Gaming while Cloud9 took down Australian side the Renegades albeit narrowly.

As the list of competing teams were finalized, it was obvious that everyone is in for a treat in this Major event. Underdog teams such as Splyce and Gambit would probably make their groups interesting for spectators, while stronger teams such as Liquid and G2 will look to prove to everyone why they received invites.